Girls Out: Moving Minds and Bodies in Burundi

 

Celebrating the International day of Women’s day and the month of March dedicated to Women’s rights, Korerwa interviewed Girls out’s team, a students’ project from Tujenge scholars Program dedicated to enhancing women’s mental health through physical activities, to talk about their journey, vision, and hopes for the future."

Q: What is “Girls Out”?

It is a community of girls that seeks to improve the mental and physical health of young Burundian girls. We do this through getting active together – playing sports, going for runs – but it's also about creating a safe space where we can talk openly and learn from experts on different aspects of health and well-being.

Q:Why is it only for girls, and what values define your community?

As young women ourselves, we've experienced firsthand some of the unique challenges that girls face, both physically and emotionally. We wanted to create a space where we could address these challenges together, in a supportive environment.  Our core values are: Discipline, inclusivity, empathy, and respect.

Q: Why did you decide to put your focus on both mental and physical health?

We’ve come to realize that those two (mental and physical health) cannot be dissociated. For example, depression can deplete energy levels and lead to procrastination, making daily tasks feel impossible. Physical activity, such as sports, is scientifically proven to combat mental health issues by triggering the release of dopamine—a hormone often reduced in those experiencing depression. Moreover, Girls out is a community where each member can share whatever they want and get an undivided support from others. The combination of all of that helps to improve the mental health of our members. 

Q: What are your main activities?

For now, we meet up twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. On Tuesdays we have an one- hour- long jogging session that starts at 7 PM. On Saturdays we start at 9 AM with physical activities for one hour. After that we have time for casual chats about everything, followed by discussions coordinated by one of our own about a specific topic. Recently, we hosted a session, led by Viviane Iyizigire- a leading clinical psychologist in Burundi, about gender-based violence. 

Q: What are your long-term goals?

One of our main goals is to expand our activities to other regions so more young women can benefit from this support network.  Another key aspiration is to launch free summer camps where Burundian girls can connect , learn new things, build strong connections, and really thrive through a variety of empowering experiences.